LeBron James displayed his humorous side when asked about his current net worth. Entering the 2025-26 NBA season, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar is set to make history as the league’s longest-tenured active player. Beyond his decades of dominance and multiple championships with different teams, James has also built a massive business empire and off-court portfolio, helping him surpass a net worth of $1.3 billion, according to Forbes.
Achieving that milestone while still playing is rare and underscores his financial success. But instead of boasting about his fortune or downplaying it with modesty, James took a completely different route in a recent interview.
LeBron James Keeps Shrugging Off His Billionaire Status
Even though James has earned hundreds of millions strictly from NBA contracts, the four-time champion has long brushed off or pretended not to acknowledge his immense wealth. His former teammate Dwyane Wade once joked that James was the cheapest player he had ever met.
James reportedly avoids unnecessary spending and even refuses to turn on data roaming just to save on charges. Whether true or exaggerated, the narrative holds: James keeps dismissing his financial reality. He did it again during an appearance on 360 with Speedy.
“Google search is a lie. That is a lie. Yeah, it’s wrong. Oh, it’s way less, yeah, it’s way less. There’s a couple of thousand in my bank. That’s it… Everything I got on free… I ain’t got no money, man. My kids got all the money now NILs and s**t. They got all the money. They take care of dad. I ain’t got nothing. I’m broke.”
“Google search is a lie… It’s way less… Everything I got on [is] free… I ain’t got no money, man, my kids got all the money now, NILs and sh*t… I’m broke.”
LeBron James on his net worth 😅
(via @Complex)pic.twitter.com/YlirYq3kdi
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 20, 2025
Forbes estimates LeBron James’ net worth at $1.3 billion as of Sept. 20, while Celebrity Net Worth puts the figure at $800 million.
Why James insists on denying the truth is unclear. Some see it as a sign of humility, while others dismiss it as unnecessary or even corny. What’s certain is that he has carried this narrative for years and shows no intention of changing.
Growing his net worth remains important, but James also knows he’ll have plenty of time to do that once he retires. For now, the clock is ticking on his quest for another NBA championship, leaving fans to wonder how his final seasons will unfold.
